Before detailed design work starts it is essential to set the right technical directions for a design. Bill Grace's Technology Selection skills include:
Science survey
Commercial search
Component selection
Science survey
Scientific research and development is an ongoing process in our world.
This causes a continual migration of new capabilities and methods out of the laboratory and into the market place.
A new product design is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of a new technology.
Bill Grace keeps an eye on scientific research in the laboratory in order to be prepared to adapt useful developments
to new product designs where appropriate.
The Science survey establishes the strategic technical direction for a design.
One half of this skill involves maintaining awareness of current research. Bill stays aware by reading publications
from technical universities and government agencies involved in research and development.
Awareness of developing technologies is also enhanced by discussions with others who hold similar interests.
The other half of this skill is an ability to conceive practical business applications of newly developed science.
Bill is the kind of person who's continually envisioning such applications while applying the realistic judgements
of years of experience in practical engineering and business.
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Commercial search
One of the most efficient tactics in new product development is to take full advantage of development work which
has already been done by others.
Much of modern industry is made up of component and subsystem manufacturers who provide parts for others to use
in products of their own.
Just as scientific research is continually developing new technologies available to product design, component
manufacturers are continually developing new product lines and revised versions of existing product lines.
All of these represent new and improved resources available to enhance the product design.
The Commercial search sets appropriate tactical technical directions for a design.
Bill Grace is able to apply his years of commercial component familiarity to new product designs.
The emergence of the internet has greatly increased Bill's access to information provided by manufacturers.
Just as the "Science survey" above establishes strategic technical direction, the commercial search points
out winning tactics in terms of specific technologies having desired characteristics and costs.
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Component selection
Once the strategic and tactical directions are established,
specific components must be selected before beginning the detailed design and layout processes.
Bill Grace has developed the skills used in developing detailed component sets.
Typical product design component selections include:
- Electronic components
- Mechanisms
- Materials
- Cabling specifications
- Operating environment
- Finishes
- Labeling
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